Do I live on an island? Is the DS really selling and pushing software as much as Japanese and NPD data imply? Am I so enthusiastic about Nintendo gaming that I wrongfully assume the DS is the best platform (not just handheld) in terms of its software offering at the moment? It sure feels like it when I walk into retail game stores.
Have you seen how paltry the in-store offering is? The DS only gets this tiny little section of shelf space at every store I’ve visited, with exception to the Nintendo World Store in NYC. And though I don’t rent games, how come Blockbuster rents both UMD movies and games but not DS titles? How did that happen given the latter’s success?
Poor DS retail support makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills.
I have also noticed this. I will explain why this is true. First of all Many retailers still feel burnt from support of N64 and Gamecube. They felt they spent too much space early on and got burnt, mainly because games were high in the 64 era. Everyone recall the $79 dollars I spent on Killer Instinct Gold? which was a lackluster game. But I bought it cause I thought it would live up to the snes version. It didnt. Anyhow Retailers are in this for money, and to whomever gives them the money they will provide the space. I talked to Gamespot manager concerning this and he agreed with me in that he sells more DS's and DS game software than either PSP/Games. The reason why they give Sony and microsoft the space is because they collect a few more dollars from the sales of their respective dollars. In comparison a DS game will nab them $5 dollars a sale while a PSP will nab them $7 dollars a sale approximately. This is why people. Nintendo Should do something to even this out or we may see the same problem with WII being that the games will sell for less.RafaelVA, US
I agree, Sony and MS used to shower us with lavish parties, game nights, free goodies…Nintendo didn't do a single thing. Nothing to build retailer relations and as the guy above mentioned, no financial incentive either. So selling a LOT more than the competitors is really the only thing that will attract retailers' attentions…shame.
Weird.. my local stores give the DS and PSP the same ammount of space. Now the Xbox section.. that takes a lot of space. Even more so than the PS2 section.
I think this is not a Spanish problem, here we have more space for DS/games than any other platform, well in the store I work.And Nintendo Spain have a big relationship with the shop, and are very friendly people.
Here in the UK the DS is doing well in sales and not bad in retail space. To put it one way it could be a lot better with game selection instore but online is brilliant but it could be a lot worse so I'm grateful! The cube doesn't even exist in stores anymore. For rentals, well ChoicesUK(similar to blockbuster) have been doing DS rental for the last few weeks, £3.95 for 3 nights which isn't bad to test games out. The only reason they did UMD was because the success of PS2 rental, but UMD hasn't been anywhere near as successful.
That DS, it's so hot right now.Target's probably the best, and that's not saying much since the DS is in the second aisle of their electronics section (every Target is set up the same). But yes, all those other places I never shop in like EB/GameStop, GAME (same company), etc all have Sony front and center. Conspiracy theorists would say Sony bought the space, and they might be right, but I think retailers are still riding the high from PS2 sales past and present.On a positive side note: The DS sells like it's selling now while being relocated to the "bad corner" of shops… can you imagine its numbers if it were front and center?
Here in Mexico, there this store placement competition going on. Something like this. I'm Coca Cola, and I don't want pepsi around this neighborhood, so I give the store two free refrigerators one for my products and one for whatever he wants to put in there. If he already sells pepsi I tell him my product sells better and offer discounts in other products from business partners like chips and beer. And if he still doesn't want to sell coca cola, I go to his competitor and offer the same but tell him he will get a bonus if he can prove me he is beating the other store in profits. Supermarkets all over the world place their products at eye-level for a discount on the products and the others get the lower shelf no one looks at first.Now, think about this Giant media companies like Sony & Microsoft. This business practices exists in other markets, can they be using them on the video game business??
Here in Swedish game stores that I've been too DS seems to get just as much or less space than the PSP. Which is usually just one shelf.I have yet to see another DS player while I commute by train (for some multiplayer action). The one I did see, was a girl at a gaming store buying a DS game. o_o;
Blake is NOT taking crazy pills! Nintendo products get the back of the stores in GameStop and EBgames these days… But this might make sense: Obviously MS and Sony are paying extra for being front and center.And the reason retailers get more for the Sony and MS titles is also obvious: stores get a fixed percentage off the sale of a game, and the other platform games are more expensive, so the stores get more money out of them. But stores also get more money when they sell used games than when they sell new ones, which is why you see the GBA used games up front and center at the counter!It's all money and cents, and retailers calculate where they locate each brand with mathematical certainty.
LOL, every Target store is NOT set up the same. They are similar, but it is all dependent on the age/size/prototype of the store. Currently, at my target store, there is the following number of lock case sections for each system:GC: 2GBA: 1DS: 1PSP: 1Xbox: 1X360: 1PS2: 4So The DS has the same amount of width as 4 other systems. Take into account that the game boxes for ds are shorter and you can fit more games into 1 case, and there is actually MORE room for the DS than all systems but the GC, PS2, and GBA.
Blockbuster stopped cartridge game rentals awhile ago.
I guess Nintendo just doesn't want games for rent.So they can make extra money through extra sales.
Interesting.In my area – western Pennsylvania, around Indiana and Johnstown – the GameCube still has a very respectable portion of display in video game stores. At local Wal-Mart stores, GameCube software fills either 1 or 2 display cases. DS software seems to be growing in display prominence, garnering 1 whole display case for itself.The PS2, obviously, will have at least 3 cases. But the Xbox also fills only 1, as does the Xbox 360. So in total display, I would say that Nintendo is in great standing. In my area, at least.But when you walk into an EB Games or a GameStop, you start to see the anti-Nintendo sentiments. The GameCube display is usually in the back of the store. Although the location is poor, at least there is usually a good selection…at least a whole wall of software. The DS display, however, is usually a paltry 1/2 wall, while hidden in a corner in the back of the store. PSP is usually front and center.But I have noticed – again, at least in my area – that Nintendo seems to be picking up steam. I think that the DS has really piqued interest in the company, and the Wii will probably launch Nintendo even further.But with all this considered, it is important to remember, as Nintendo fans, that Nintendo isn't exactly "struggling" or anything. GameCube may not have been as successful as past Nintendo consoles, but the damn thing still sold…what, 20 or 30 million units? I am pretty sure that the Xbox only beat it out by a few million. Not that far a margin, considering the context.